The Asheville area is settling into the start of spring, which means it’s the perfect time to think about landscaping. Whether you’re starting from scratch, looking to fill in a few bare spots, or eager for a complete overhaul, it makes sense to incorporate low-maintenance and native plants and trees into your plan. Here are some tips on achieving a naturalized, easy-care yard, so you can spend less time tending to your property, and more time enjoying it.
The nitty-gritty on natives
Native plants and trees have developed physical and biological characteristics specific to their regions, making them hardy, environmentally friendly and easy to care for. They help to restore and maintain landscapes that may be compromised due to development. How to select the best natives for your yard? Try exploring the surrounding environment to get an idea of what grows naturally and appeals to your aesthetic. Visit local nurseries, which are brimming with native options and advice on what grows best in your yard, depending on light, soil type, grade and altitude.
Native options in the Asheville area are diverse, offering a multitude of ways to easily enhance your property. Colorful wildflowers are easy to grow and attract important pollinators. Groundcovers such as partridgeberry and green and gold are low maintenance, spread easily, and offer a natural way to stem erosion. Native ferns and tall grasses are not only beautiful but achieve double duty as habitats for the region’s wildlife, including birds, insects and tiny animals.
Perennially pleasing
For an option that truly lives up to its hands-off reputation, try planting plenty of perennials. Flowering perennials promise blooms every year, require minimal maintenance, and save on time and money since there’s no need to replant every year.
With perennials, even what happens below the surface helps to keep yard maintenance to a minimum: Perennial root systems aerate and channel the ground, allowing water to travel more efficiently. This also benefits shallow-rooted plants nearby, which draw moisture and nutrients up from the surface of the perennial roots. Bonus: Because perennials don’t need to be pulled up and replanted each year, the soil remains undisturbed and structurally strong.
Hardy perennials provide ground cover and preserve moisture. You can choose perennials that continue to benefit your yard through the winter, dying back in the colder months yet keeping enough foliage to cover the soil and protect it.
And don’t forget about year-round trees and bushes. Evergreens offer up four-season interest with ease. They shade your yard in the summer, and buffer it against cold and wind in the winter. They can provide privacy, and even help with muffling unwanted noises.
Let nature step in
Mulching grass clippings back into your lawn as you mow saves you on time spent bagging and disposing of them. Mulched clippings can also be used around flower beds, trees and plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Fertilizing can also be done naturally and conveniently by using an at-home composting system to turn food scraps into free, nutrient-rich nourishment. You can also subscribe to a composting service, which allows you to compost without the maintenance of a compost bin. Members receive bins that they can fill with compostable items; the bins are collected on a regular basis and returned with earned compost.
To learn about real estate in the Asheville area, connect with us at Info@MyMosaicRealty.com, or call anytime at 828-707-9556.
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